§ 9-7. Requirements for the landlord's notice of termination
A notice of termination (oppsigelse) from the landlord (utleier) must be in writing and give reasons. It must also tell you that you can object (protestere) within one month, and what happens if you do not. If any one of these requirements is missing, the notice of termination is invalid.
Machine-translated from Norwegian. The Norwegian text is the one that applies. Read the original in Norwegian.Norsk English العربية Polski Українська
The text of the law (unofficial translation)
Notice of termination from the landlord shall be in writing.
The notice of termination shall state reasons. The notice of termination shall also state that the tenant (leier) can object in writing to the landlord within one month after the notice of termination has been received. The notice of termination shall furthermore state that if the tenant does not object within the deadline, the tenant loses the right to claim that the notice of termination is contrary to the law, cf. § 9-8 first paragraph second sentence, and that the landlord may in that case request forced eviction (tvangsfravikelse) under the Enforcement Act (tvangsfullbyrdelsesloven) § 13-2 third paragraph letter c.
A notice of termination that does not meet the requirements in the first and second paragraphs is invalid. If the tenant has moved out in accordance with the notice of termination, it is deemed to have been accepted.
The provisions in the second and third paragraphs do not apply to notice of termination of an open-ended tenancy agreement (tidsubestemt leieavtale) for a single room for living in where the tenant, under the tenancy agreement (leieavtale), has access to someone else's home (bolig). The same applies to the rental of commercial premises (lokale) where the rent (husleie) is agreed per day, and to the separate rental of a garage or storage room.
What does this mean?
The landlord's notice of termination is not valid unless it contains everything the law requires. There are four absolute requirements:
One: In writing. A verbal notice of termination does not count. Not a text message, not a chat over the hedge. In writing — a letter or an email.
Two: With reasons. The landlord must state the reason for the notice of termination. "I want the flat back" is not enough. He must say which of the lawful reasons in § 9-5 he is relying on — "I am going to live here myself", "the property is going to be demolished", etc. If the home is going to be sold, the sale must be stated as the reason for the notice of termination.
Three: Inform you of the right to object. The notice of termination must explicitly tell you that you can object in writing within one month.
Four: Inform you of the consequence of not objecting. It must say that you lose the possibility to claim that the notice of termination is unlawful if you do not object within the deadline.
If any one of these points is missing — the notice of termination is invalid. You do not need to do anything, you do not need to move, and the landlord must start over.
Important exception: If you have actually packed up and moved out in accordance with the notice of termination — then it is deemed accepted, even if it was invalid. Do not move just because you have received a notice of termination you are unsure about.
Examples
Kari receives a handwritten note from the landlord saying he "wants the flat". No reason, no information about the right to object. The notice of termination is invalid on two points. Kari does not need to do anything — and she should definitely not move out.
Lars receives a thorough written notice of termination that meets all the requirements. It gives as its reason that the landlord is going to move in himself, and it informs him of the one-month deadline to object. It is valid. Lars has one month to decide whether he wants to object.
Common mistakes
- Moving out because you think you have to. Always check whether the notice of termination meets the requirements in § 9-7 BEFORE you do anything.
- Thinking that a valid notice of termination means you have to leave. No — you can still object within one month, and the notice of termination can be set aside by a court.
- Throwing away the notice of termination. Keep it — it is the document that determines your deadline.
What should you do?
If you receive a notice of termination: Read it carefully and check all four requirements. Send it to the Rent Disputes Tribunal (Husleietvistutvalget) for a free assessment if you are unsure. If it is invalid — you do not need to do anything. If it is valid — decide whether you want to object within one month.
Frequently asked questions
Can the landlord give notice of termination by email?
What if the notice of termination only lacks the information about the right to object — is it then invalid?
- § 9-5The lawful reasons for notice of termination
- § 9-8Your right to object
- § 9-6Length of the notice period
- § 9-9Termination with immediate effect (heving) for material breach (vesentlig mislighold)
- Notice of termination from the landlord: requirements, legitimate reason (saklig grunn) and the deadline to object
- Garage, holiday rental, hotel and borrowed home: when does the protection of homes not apply?
- I moved out after a notice of termination with formal errors: can I change my mind now?
- Older tenant given notice of termination after many years: what you should know